Label mounting machine



Dec. 23, 1969 w. A. LONG LABEL MUNTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJuly '7, 1966 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM A BYWea/:CYJ

Dec. 23, 1969 w. A. LONG LABEL MOUNTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-SheecI 2 FiledJuly 7, 1966 INVENTOR.

A. LO N G Dec. 23, 1969 w. A. LONG 3,485,701

LABEL MOUNTING MACHINE Filed July '7, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM A. LON G Dec. 23, 1969 w. A. LONG 3,485,701

LABEL MOUNTING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. l5

INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. LON G BYWea/z United States Patent O 3,485,701LABEL MOUNTING MACHINE William A. Long, Sycamore Township, HamiltonCounty,

Ohio, assignor to The Cincinnati Milling Machine Company, Cincinnati,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed July 7, 1966, Ser. No. 563,477 Int.Cl. B32b 3] /04 US. Cl. 156-552 12 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Amachine for mounting a label on a web with the web overlying andprotecting a face of the label. A swinging framework is pivotallymounted in the machine and carries a first roll and a second rollinterconnected for turning in unison and in Opposite directions. The webis guided crosswise of and in engagement with the first roll. A back-uproll is rotatably mounted opposite the second roll. The label is guidedbetween the second roll and the back-up roll. Initial outward movementof the web causes the framework to swing to bring the second roll intoposition to grip the label against the back-up roll. Further outwardmovement of the web causes the first roll to turn and drive the secondroll. The second roll advances the label into face-to-face engagementwith the web.

This invention relates to a machine for mounting a label on a web oftransparent pressure sensitive tape.

It is often desirable to cover a label, such as an address label, with alayer of transparent pressure sensitive tape to protect information onthe label and to ensure firm attachment of the label to a package.However, manipulation of a web of pressure sensitive tape can beinconvenient and ensuring a smooth wrinkle free attachment of label totape can often be diihcult. An object of this invention is to provide amachine which mounts a label on a web of pressure sensitive tape.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine from which aweb of pressure sensitive tape can be withdrawn and in which a label isadvanced into faceto-face engagement with the web as the web iswithdrawn.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this typein which advance of the web drives mechanism which advances the label atthe same speed at the tape is advanced, so that the web and labeladvance into wrinkle-free engagement.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this typein which, as the web is initially advanced, a label gripping roll isadvanced into engagement with the label and in which further advance ofthe web drives the label gripping roll to advance the label intoengagement with the web.

A further object of this invention is to provide a power drive for sucha machine which withdraws the tape and advances the label and tape intoengagement.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a machine whichprotects the tape against dust and the like before the tape isdispensed.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertainsfrom the following detailed description, and the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a label mounting machineconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1:

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,parts thereof being broken away and in section to reveal interiorconstruction;

3,485,701 Patented Dec. 23, 1969 FIG. 4 is a View in vertical section ofthe machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, a web of tape and aroll thereof being shown in dot-dash lines;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken on the line 5 5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken on the line 6 6 in FIG. vl, a labelbeing shown in dot-dash lines and a web 0f tape being shown in fulllines;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged View in section taken on the line 7 7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 8 8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 9 9 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a view in section taken on the line 10-10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a swinging assemblyforming a portion of the machine;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view in end elevation on an enlarged scale of adrive roll forming a part of the machine, a fragmentary portion of theweb of pressure sensitive tape being shown in association therewith, theother portions of the machine being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 13 is a view in section taken generally on the line 13 13 in FIG.4, parts being broken away in order to reveal internal construction;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a machine constructedin accordance with another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 15 is a view in section taken on the line 15 15 in FIG. 14, and

FIG. 16 is a plan View of a package with a label and tape attachedthereto.

In the following detailed description, and the drawings, like referencecharacters indicate like parts.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, is shown a label mounting machine 15constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. Themachine includes a base plate 16 to which a housing 17 is pivotallymounted on pivot pins 18 (FIGS. l and 2) which are mounted in sockets 19(FIG. 4) in the base 16. The housing 17 includes side wall panels 21 and22 (FIG. 1), a generally angle shaped upper frame panel 23, a generallyangle shaped nose panel 24, and a guide plate 26, all of which can berigidly connected together as by welding or the like. On the side wallpanels 21 and 22 are mounted shaft supports 27 (FIG. 4) and 28 (FIG. 3)which can carry a cross rod 29 on which a roll of transparent pressuresensitive tape 31 can be mounted. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the shaftsupports is provided with a slot 32 in which an end portion of the rod29 is received.

A web of tape 33 can be withdrawn from the roll 31 and passes therefromunder a roller 34, which is rotatably mounted on a swinging framework3S. The web is withdrawn from the roll 31 with the adhesive coated sideup, and the adhesive coating adheres to the roller 34. As shown in FIG.12, the face of the roller 34 is provided with a plurality of spacednarrow lengthwise ribs 34a so that the tape adheres only to outer edgesof the ribs. The roller 34 can be made of a smooth surfaced plasticmaterial such as that commonly known as Delrin so that, although the webadheres thereto, the web is readily releasable therefrom. As the web isdrawn outwardly, the web drives and turns the roller 34. A pinion F gear36 is mounted on and attached to the roller 34 by screw fasteners 37(FIG. 11). The pinion gear 36 meshes with and drives a pinion gear 38mounted on a roller 39 which is also rotatably mounted on the swingingframework 35.

The swinging framework includes side plates 41 and 42 (FIG. 13), whichare pivotally mounted on a cross-rod 43. The crossrod 43, in turn, spansthe side wall panels 21 and 22 with end portions thereof being receivedand supported at openings 44 and 46 in the side wall panels as shown inFIG. 13. The side plates 41 and 42 are linked by a frame plate 47 towhich the side plates are attached. Swinging of the swinging framework35 in a counter-clockwise direction is limited by a crossrod 48, whichspans the side wall panels 21 and 22. Tension springs 49 and 5.1 areattached to the crossrod 48 and to studs 52 and 53 mounted on the sideplates 41 and 42, respectively, to urge the swinging frame 35counter-clockwise as indicated in FIG. 4.

The roller 39, as shown in FIG. 13, includes sections 54 which are oflarge diameter and other sections 56 of small diameter. As shown in FIG.6, the lower portion of the guide pltae 26 terminates in teeth 57 whichare separated by slots 58. The sections 54 of large diameter are alignedwith the slots 58. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, as the web 33 is drawnoutwardly, the swinging frame 35 swings from the FIG. 7 position to theFIG. 8 position in which the sections 54 of large diameter extendthrough the slots 58. In this position, the sections 54 can cooperatewith an idle back-up roll 61 to engage a label 62 therebetween. Then, asthe web is drawn further outwardly, the label is fed downwardly alongthe teeth 57 and into face-to-face engagement with the web 33. Theroller 39 can be formed of rubber or rubber-like material so that thelabel is firmly gripped thereby. An idle pressing roll 63 is disposedadjacent lower edges of the teeth 57, and the label and the tape passaround the idle roll 63 to press the label into firm engagement with thetape. The idle roll 63 is provided with a facing sleeve 64 of smoothplastic material such as that known as Teflon so that the web of tape isreadily releasable therefrom. The rolls 61 and 63 are rotatably mountedin bearings mounted in the side wall panels 21 and 22, as shown in FIG.5. From the idle roll 63, the web of tape with the label attachedthereto passes over an idle roll 66 which is mounted in bearings 67attached to the base 16. The idle roll 66 is arranged to guide the tapeinto engagement with the idle roll 63. Outboard of the roll 66, a tapecut-off knife 68 is mounted on the nose panel 24.

When a label 62 is to be mounted on the web 33, the label is positionedon the guide plate 26, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Side guides 71 aremounted on guide plate 26 for positioning the label. Each of the sideguides 71 is mounted on a guide block 72 (FIGS. 9 and Each guide blockextends through a slot 73 in the guide plate 26. Each guide block isprovided with a transverse bore 74 through which the cross rod 43extends. A thumb screw 76 mounted in each guide block is engageable withthe crossrod 43 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 to lock the guide blocks andthe side guides in position. As shown in FIG. 9, each side guide 71 isof angle shape, and the side guides 71 direct the label 62 (FIG. 6)downwardly and across the guide plate 26.

When the label mounting machine is to be used, a label 62 is placed onthe guide plate 26 in the position shown in FIG. 6 between the sideguides 71 and with the face thereof which carries indicia down. Thelabel can slide downwardly into engagement with the web 33 in theposition shown in FIG. 7. Then, as the web is drawn outwardly, theswinging framework 35 moves from the FIG. 7 position to the FIG. 8position, where the large diameter sections 54 of the roller 39 grip thelabel against the idle roller 61. Then, as the web is withdrawn further,the label 62 is fed downwardly and the web and label pass under the idleroll 63 which serves as a pressing roll and presses thel label and webinto firm face-to-face engagement. The diameter of the roller 34 and thediameter of the large sections 54 of the roller 39 are approximatelyequal and the gears 36 and 38 are arranged to turn the rollers 34 and 39at equal speeds but in opposite directions so that the web and the labeladvance at approximately equal speeds. However, the effective diameterof the roller 34 can be slightly less than that of the large sections 54of the roller 39 so that the web is drawn tight as it comes intoengagement with the label 62.

When the label has been pressed into face-to-face engagement, a furtherportion of the web is drawn outwardly until there is a border of thetape of the web surrounding the label. Then the label and tapesurrounding it are cut off from the remainder of the web and are mountedon a package 81 as shown in FIG. 16, and the tape covers and protectsthe label and indicia written thereon, but the indicia can be readthrough the transparent tape.

In FIGS. 14 and 15 is shown a machine 115 which is generally similar tothe machine already described but includes a power drive mounted on aside wall panel 122 thereof. Mechanism inside a housing 117 thereof canbe substantially identical with the mechanism already described andincludes an idle back-up roll 161 (FIG. 15) and a driven pressing roll163. Portions of the rolls 161 and 163 inside the housing are similar inconstruction to corresponding portions of the rolls 61 and 63,respectively, of the machine shown in FIGS. l- 13 inclusive. The roll163 is provided with a shaft extension 201 (FIG. 15) on which a wormwheel 202 is mounted. The worm wheel 202 meshes with a worm gear 203(FIG. 14) rotatably mounted in bearings 204 and 206, which are attachedto the side wall panel 122. A pinion 207 mounted on a worm shaft 208meshes with a pinion 209 mounted on a motor shaft 210. The motor shaft210 is driven by a motor 211 mounted on the side wall panel 122. Powerfrom the motor drives the roll 163 to draw an adhesive-coated web 133outwardly and into enga-gement with a label 162. As shown in FIG. 15, anedge section of the web 133 engages a facing sleeve A164 of the rollwhile the label 162 overlies the major portion of the web 133, the webengaging the facing sleeve outboard of the label.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby letters patent is:

1. A machine for mounting a label on a web which comprises a housing, aswinging framework pivotally mounted in said housing, a first roll meansand a second roll means rotatably mounted on said swinging framework inparallelism, means interconnecting said first and second roll means forturning in unison and in opposite directions, means for guiding the webcrosswise of and in engagement with the first roll means, a back-up rollrotatably mounted in said housing opposite the second roll means, meansfor guiding the label between the second roll means and the back-uproll, initial outward movement Iof the web causing the framework -toswing to bring the second roll means into position to grip the labelagainst the back-up roll, further outward movement of the web causingthe first roll means to turn and drive the second roll means, the secondroll means advancing the label into face-to-face engagement with theweb, the swinging framework swinging away from the back-up roll whentension on the web in relaxed, whereby a labelreceiving gap is `formedbetween the back-up roll and the second roll means.

2. A machine as in claim 1 wherein the web is transparent andadhesive-coated on one face, and means is provided for advancing thelabel into face-to-face engagement with the adhesive-coated face.

3. A machine as in claim 2 wherein the adhesive coated face of the webengages the first roll means at a portion of the periphery thereof.

4. A machine as in claim 3 wherein the first roll means is provided witha plurality of spaced lengthwise ribs and the adhesivecoated faceengages only ridges of the ribs.

5. A machine as in claim 1 wherein the web passes over a pressing rolloutboard of the swinging framework, whereby the label is pressed againstthe web by the pressing roll as the web passes around the pressing roll.

6. A machine as in claim 5 wherein a guide roll is disposed outboard ofthe pressing roll and guides the web so that, as the web is pulledoutwardly, the web and label engage a predetermined portion of theperiphery of the pressing roll.

7. A machine as in claim 5 wherein the web is adhesivecoated on the facethereof which is opposed to the pressing roll so that a portion of theadhesive-coated face of the web outboard of the label engages thepressing roll.

S. A machine as in claim 5 wherein the web is adhesivecoated on the facethereof which is opposed to the pressing roll so that a portion of theadhesive-coated face outboard of the label engages the pressing roll,and means is provided for driving the pressing roll to draw the web andthe label into ace-to-ace engagement.

9. A machine as in claim 1 wherein the swinging framework is resilientlyurged to a position in `which the second roll means is spaced from theback-up roll to provide a space therebetween for receiving the label.

10. A machine for mounting a label on a web which comprises a rst rollmeans and a second roll means rotatably mounted in parallelism, meansinterconnecting said rst and second roll means for turning in unison andin opposite directions, means for guiding the web crosswise of and inengagement with the irst roll means, a back-up roll rotatably mountedopposite the second roll means, means for directing the label betweenthe second roll means and the back-up roll, outward movement of the webcausing the rst roll means to turn and drive the second roll means, thesecond roll means advancing the label into face-to-face engagement withthe web.

11. A machine as in claim 1t) wherein the web passes over a pressingroll outboard of the first roll means, whereby the label is pressedagainst the web by the pressing roll as the web passes around thepressing roll.

12. A machine as in claim 11 wherein the `web is adhesively coated onthe face thereof which is opposed to the pressing roll so that a portionof the adhesive coatedface outboard of the label engages the pressingroll, and means is provided for driving the pressing roll to draw theweb and the label into face-to-ace engagement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,027,285 3/1962 Eisner et al156-359 3,196,069 7/1965 Eorehlig 156-547 3,340,130 9/1967 Dunn et al156-552 JOHN T. GOOLKASIAN, Primary Examiner I. D. SMITH, AssistantExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R. 156-494

